Hello LS world! New member - The $1750 Lexus + Pics
10-04-11, 06:21 PM
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Hello LS world! New member - The $1750 Lexus + Pics
Hello everyone!
I have been working hard on restoring a very neglected and dirty LS400 as my 2nd car ever
I bought her a month ago for $1750 with exactly 164,000 miles. Made in 1991 in japan she is silver with a greyish leather interior and all the options minus a cd changer and nack sound.
When I found her..she had sat in a barn unused for 4 years..mold everywhere...mildew...trash filled..torn..dirty leather...Dead hood shocks...Needing new rotors and a battery and a freon charge and splash shield....NO bulbs on the car worked..ZERO!! I replaced over 15 bulbs on her and every single light works now. It was eerie...she was beautiful but covered and seemed depressed and miserable....I was stepping in to history....
Since then I have put about 100+ hours into cleaning her up with a toothbrush and going over every inch of her. I Gave her a new battery, New tires, new hood shocks, new splash shield, Replaced the OEM stereo with a Clarion unit with ipod In and threw a very small 12 inch jbl sub in the trunk and new rotors and new fluids all around.
She has cost me $2800 after initial buying costs of $1750 after tax and fees and all the work from shops put into her and parts.
for a $2800 car. she drives like a dream and I think I love her.
Zero dash error lights, zero mechanical problems, zero missing or broken parts and now that the seats will be redone and the paint chips fixed. she will be almost show room...
I am 20 years old and this is my second car. My first was a 2000 RX 300 I sold before the tranny could give out on me.
I will keep this until she falls apart and then fix her up again. I plan to make it to 500,000 miles at LEAST
Hello community and thank you for all your help so far. Enjoy the pics, she is Bone stock. Taken with a cellphone camera..
I have been working hard on restoring a very neglected and dirty LS400 as my 2nd car ever
I bought her a month ago for $1750 with exactly 164,000 miles. Made in 1991 in japan she is silver with a greyish leather interior and all the options minus a cd changer and nack sound.
When I found her..she had sat in a barn unused for 4 years..mold everywhere...mildew...trash filled..torn..dirty leather...Dead hood shocks...Needing new rotors and a battery and a freon charge and splash shield....NO bulbs on the car worked..ZERO!! I replaced over 15 bulbs on her and every single light works now. It was eerie...she was beautiful but covered and seemed depressed and miserable....I was stepping in to history....
Since then I have put about 100+ hours into cleaning her up with a toothbrush and going over every inch of her. I Gave her a new battery, New tires, new hood shocks, new splash shield, Replaced the OEM stereo with a Clarion unit with ipod In and threw a very small 12 inch jbl sub in the trunk and new rotors and new fluids all around.
She has cost me $2800 after initial buying costs of $1750 after tax and fees and all the work from shops put into her and parts.
for a $2800 car. she drives like a dream and I think I love her.
Zero dash error lights, zero mechanical problems, zero missing or broken parts and now that the seats will be redone and the paint chips fixed. she will be almost show room...
I am 20 years old and this is my second car. My first was a 2000 RX 300 I sold before the tranny could give out on me.
I will keep this until she falls apart and then fix her up again. I plan to make it to 500,000 miles at LEAST
Hello community and thank you for all your help so far. Enjoy the pics, she is Bone stock. Taken with a cellphone camera..
Last edited by Patsum; 10-04-11 at 06:36 PM.
10-04-11, 08:49 PM
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I will find the before and after pictures...I am having the seats re done right now as we speak by a guy I know...he is doing all of them for $800....this will be interesting..his work in the past in sheer incredible even if he takes a long time....
Right now the passengers seat has two tears from heat. not from use. The car got very little use...the elements took their toll though..thankfully not on the paint or dashboard.
Now I need to find some dye for the plastic pieces on the steering wheel....not worn plastic but white that I can't get off so I might as well re dye it...I also would like to have a projector retrofit..my headlights suck all kinds of glory as they wont adjust so they are pointing down and I must use my brights as regulars. After that..she is perfect minus the temp control lcd being out. but I don't care.
Now the real thing will be trying to get used to using a RWD car in winter after my AWD RX300....
Thanks everyone!
also..my gas millage is pretty bad...around 300 miles with 80% city and 20% highway with the a/c on before the Low Gas warning comes on...I drive aggressively so I am not shocked.
Right now the passengers seat has two tears from heat. not from use. The car got very little use...the elements took their toll though..thankfully not on the paint or dashboard.
Now I need to find some dye for the plastic pieces on the steering wheel....not worn plastic but white that I can't get off so I might as well re dye it...I also would like to have a projector retrofit..my headlights suck all kinds of glory as they wont adjust so they are pointing down and I must use my brights as regulars. After that..she is perfect minus the temp control lcd being out. but I don't care.
Now the real thing will be trying to get used to using a RWD car in winter after my AWD RX300....
Thanks everyone!
also..my gas millage is pretty bad...around 300 miles with 80% city and 20% highway with the a/c on before the Low Gas warning comes on...I drive aggressively so I am not shocked.
Last edited by Patsum; 10-04-11 at 08:53 PM.
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10-04-11, 09:56 PM
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no engine code but bad gass milage = temp sensor
makes the enigone think its -22f
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...mString=search
search for the install procedure.
makes the enigone think its -22f
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...mString=search
search for the install procedure.
10-04-11, 09:58 PM
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Great! I will check it out and probably do it when I get the car back. but I do need to keep in mind I drive heavy. I will never get more than 20 mpg mixed in any car I am behind the wheel of....oops
10-05-11, 06:51 AM
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Keep up the good work, it must have been a real PITA cleaning the interior after sitting in a barn for 4 years. I can't even imagine what it looked like, 
actually I don't want to imagine it. But, it makes it more rewarding for you just knowing that you brought it back to the condition it should be in. 
Are you gonna stay with stock wheels or get a new set, seeing how you're gonna need a new one in the front? Out of all the stock wheels those are the only set that I don't like, I do like your pics though. Do you think b/c you drive a Lexus that you don't need to park in a regular spot?
Just kidding, I've parked in that same spot when I went to the Bluebird.
actually I don't want to imagine it. But, it makes it more rewarding for you just knowing that you brought it back to the condition it should be in. Are you gonna stay with stock wheels or get a new set, seeing how you're gonna need a new one in the front? Out of all the stock wheels those are the only set that I don't like, I do like your pics though. Do you think b/c you drive a Lexus that you don't need to park in a regular spot? Just kidding, I've parked in that same spot when I went to the Bluebird.